Theophylline and Diazepam Interaction

Drug interaction information between Theophylline and Diazepam.

Theophylline and Diazepam have a documented minor interaction in FDA labeling.

FDA drug labeling documents a minor-severity interaction between Theophylline and Diazepam. This page displays the available source-record category and label text. The category is not an individual risk estimate or medication-combination direction.

Drug A

Theophylline

Methylxanthine Bronchodilator

Drug B

Diazepam

Benzodiazepine

How They Interact

Theophylline blocks the receptors in the brain that diazepam needs to work. This makes diazepam less effective at its normal dose.

FDA Label Information

25% increase Diazepam Benzodiazepines increase CNS concentrations of adenosine, a potent CNS depressant, while theophylline blocks adenosine receptors. Larger diazepam doses may be required to produce desired level of sedation. Discontinuation of theophylline without reduction of diazepam dose may result in respiratory depression.

Diazepam Also Interacts With

View all Diazepam interactions →

Frequently Asked Questions

What SPL severity band is on file for Theophylline + Diazepam?

Compiled FDA labeling labels this pair minor. That is a source-record field, not an individual medication-combination decision.

Which drug in this pair has the larger labeled-interaction portfolio?

Theophylline has 86 labeled pairs on file vs Diazepam's 26. In the minor band specifically: Theophylline has 54 (also Propranolol, Methotrexate, Lithium, Erythromycin); Diazepam has 22 (also Omeprazole, Ketoconazole, Fluvoxamine, Cimetidine).

What mechanism field is on file for Theophylline and Diazepam?

Theophylline blocks the receptors in the brain that diazepam needs to work. This makes diazepam less effective at its normal dose.

Theophylline carries more major-labeled pairs than Diazepam

SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is minor · classes on file: Theophylline (Methylxanthine Bronchodilator); Diazepam (Benzodiazepine).

Theophylline has 27 major-labeled pairs vs Diazepam's 0. This page itself is in the minor band, not the major band.

Theophylline

27 major · 5 moderate · 54 minor · 86 total

Diazepam

0 major · 4 moderate · 22 minor · 26 total

Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL) via openFDA (2026). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This registry does not provide individual medication-combination directions.